A Quick Chat With Chris Carpenter from Crash & The Crapenters:

Unleashing their explosive and unapologetic punk energy, Sydney’s Crash & The Crapenters, have dropped their third album ‘Of A Love Renewed’. This genre-bending band, exploring punk, hard rock, ska and even reggae, have a unique sound that offers up a blunt and brutal social commentary on the events of the past few years post-COVID. Thematically potent and musically intense, this is a ruthless punk-rock album. We caught up with frontman Chris Carpenter to find out more about the album, the band and more.

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Can you tell us what this album means to you and what you want people to take away from it? 

This album for me personally is about making sense of the “new normal” in a world that has been altered completely over the last four years, and my hope is that people will listen to it, and HEAR it, and find solidarity in it. That people might absorb it and think, this guy is as confused and scared and angry as I am, and knowing he feels the way I do, makes me feel less alone. 

Who are some of your influences and why?

Musically we owe a huge debt to bands like The Clash, Paul Weller and The Jam, Rancid, Red Hot Chili Peppers when they were good, Pearl Jam, and early Midnight Oil in that we’re not afraid to play a bunch of different musical genres and to tackle difficult, topical subjects lyrically. 

What's the creative process for the band, from writing through to recording?

Dave and I are the main songwriters in the band, and more often than not, we’ll bring a demo into rehearsal and start jamming it as a band, which is when the other guys have their input. 

What do you think makes a great song?

Obviously, you want a song musically to have hooks, to be rocking and exciting or mellow or soulful, whatever suits the song best and suits the mood that it’s written. Lyrically, honestly I want to be receiving as a listener and in turn paying forward as a writer, stuff that I can identify with and feel makes my life better. That’s why I’m such a huge Paul Weller fan…he writes lyrics to live by!

If the band could collaborate with any artist, who would it be and why?

I’d love to sing a duet with Patti Smith, she’s the icon of punk rock and poetry as far as I’m concerned, something cool and soulful and beautiful like what she did with REM in their “E-Bow The Letter” track. 

When not working on music, what other creative outlet/s do each have?

I’m always writing, poetry, short stories and am actually writing my first novel this year, “The Poet Vs The Toxic Avenger” about a man’s struggle to be his authentic self in a world where he doesn’t fit in. A few of us are surfers and like getting creative on waves, a couple of the guys play in covers bands. We’re all parents, so are creative in what we do with our children. 

Who are some local bands we should check out? 

How long have you got? The Sydney scene is so vibrant, we’re so fortunate to be involved in it. Got to give a shout out to mates of ours like Radio Rejects, Ocæn, The Tinnies, Topnovil, DOWNGIRL, Hot Drip, Speedball, Apprehension Avenue, Myth Of Her, Flud, The Hot Ness, Avalanche, Starcrazy…Blake Cateris, Ed Barnes.

Winter or summer and why?

Summer, because like Billabong says, “Life’s Better In Boardshorts!” 

What else does 2024 have in store for the band?

We’ll get back playing shows to an extent, but we’re intent on making this year a year of unbridled creativity. We’ve already begun working on our next four-song EP, “Species Du Faeces”, and the plan is to record our fourth album this year as well. 

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